2010 W&M Richmond Interns Program

Contact: Brian Focarino (bjfocarino@wm.edu)

Summary

Applications are due October 16 for The Richmond Interns Program, a 3-credit internship associated with the next session of the General Assembly, January-March 2010.

Full Description

The W&M Richmond Interns Program will match twelve students with twelve legislators, administrators, and other groups in Richmond during the Virginia General Assembly Session from January through March 2010. The program, which began last year, is led by Senate Minority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr. who will give three lectures throughout the course of the semester. Upon the completion of their time in the General Assembly, students will work on a modest research paper on a topic of their choosing that aligns with their experiences in Richmond. Students will receive 3 course credits for Government 390: General Assembly.

Once students have been selected for the program, a process of matching students with appropriate internships will begin. The interships are generally unpaid. With students working in different policy areas and governmental arenas, group discussions and perspectives will be diverse and challenge students to cope with all aspects of state government, it's working components, and influences. Students will be required to commit to the time frame specified for the internship, and will travel to Richmond either Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays every week up until Spring Break, depending on class schedules and the needs of their specific internships.

The program will also seek to incorporate opportunities for students to meet with or participate in "brown bag" lunches with figures such as the newly elected Governor, Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, lobbyists, and President Reveley to discuss relevant issues and other "hot topics" of the session. Students can expect to be in Richmond from 8:30/9 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon on the days they travel to session, and should not plan anything on those days that begins before 5 p.m. on campus.

Dates: The rough dates of the program will be January 13th to March 5th, though interns will not be required to start until classes are back in session for the Spring 2010 semester.

Application Criteria:

1. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only

2. Open to all majors

3. Minimum 2.5 GPA

4. Applications are due October 16th by noon and students will know decisions the following week of October 19th

5. Students will know whether or not they have been accepted before Spring registration begins

6. Students should include: Name; Year; Major(s); a list of any classes you believe are relevant to this experience; whether or not you have been involved in any way in the political process or a campaign before; whether or not you have party preference and, if so, if you had any legislator in mind or have had previous contact with that legislator; a 100-word statement of how this opportunity figures in to your future goals either academically, professionally, or both.

7. Include this information in an email or .doc attachment to bjfocarino@wm.edu

Please contact Brian Focarino (bjfocarino@wm.edu), the student coordinator of the program, with any questions or concerns.